Work on Matara-Colombo expressway ends by 2011

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Highways and Road Development Minister T.B. Ekanayake told Parliament yesterday the total estimated cost of the Matara-Colombo Southern Lanka Expressway is Rs. 85 billion and work is expected to be completed by 2011.

The Government has spent Rs. 43,887 million for the construction of this project so far, he said.

Asked about the new construction added due to various reasons, in addition to plans prepared for the construction of the road, the Minister said the original design of the project was to construct a four lane new highway from Kottawa to Dodangoda (34 km) and the balance from Dodangoda to Matara (92 km) to two lane standard. However, during the implementation, a policy decision was taken to upgrade the entire highway to four lane standard and to restructure all contracts with enhanced scope.

Further opening of the Kalu Ganga Bridge, Welipenna Bridge and Benthara Ganga Bridge were increased to mitigate flooding, the Minister said. An additional flood mitigation method was also adopted at Kahathuduwa Interchange. Altogether the original cost of the project was revised from Rs. 40 billion to Rs. 85 billion, he said.

The Minister was responding to an oral question by JVP MP Lakshman Nipunaarachchi.